“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns’!” {Isaiah 52:7} Our Lady & St Neot’s Bethany group, for their end of year celebration, visited Father David Mead’s retreat near Bugle, Cornwall. The theme for the afternoon was ‘PEACE’. We brought with us our ‘peace dove’ which had been brought back from The Holy Land by some of our parishioners in May 2019. Ten people shared a wonderfully peaceful and tranquil afternoon in the fabulously secluded grounds. The sun shone for us, and the weather was perfect. A candle was lit in our peace dove during the opening prayers said by Father David. Some sobering statistics from the Global Peace index were discussed. Of 197 countries in the world, 92 are in conflict beyond their borders and 97 have deteriorated in peacefulness. Gaza and Ukraine are the main drivers with battle deaths in 2023 as 162,000. 110 million people are either refugees or internally displaced due to violent conflict. 16 countries host more than ½ million refugees. In Lebanon 1 in 4 people are refugees, Germany have taken 2. 5 million refugees, while United Kingdom have taken 0.25 million. Among the most peaceful countries are Iceland, Ireland, Austria, New Zealand and Singapore. The least being Yemen, Sudan, Afghanistan, Ukraine, the Middle East, and North Africa. Sobering facts, then thirty peace verses from the bible were contemplated. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. {John 16:33} Participants wandered around the grounds in solitude to meditate or to pray in the beautiful tiny chapel, some chose to stay in the summer house by the tranquil pond to enjoy the gentle sound of water and observe the fish and fleeting dragonflies. Tea, sandwiches, cream and jam scones and fruit were shared, and people enjoyed a time to chat and reflect. Father David was thanked for hosting the afternoon. The closing prayer, St Francis of Assisi’s peace prayer ‘Lord, make me an instrument of your peace’ was read by a participant followed by a blessing from Father David. On the first Saturday of every month, at Our Lady & St Neot Liskeard, from 10:30am until 14:00 we have Open Church. Come to light a candle, say a prayer, find out about the history of our church and look around, meet new people and come and have a chat. Everyone is welcome! Tea/Coffee, biscuits and cake are available. “What even you have learned or received or heard from me or see in me – put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. {Philippians 4:9} Every Thursday at Liskeard at 18:00 we live stream on our Parish website via YouTube our Holy Hour – Exposition and Divine Mercy Litany. Please join us for a quiet hour of contemplation and reflection; “Could you not watch one hour with Me” {Matthew 26:40} This is very much at the heart of our Evangelisation in Liskeard. Just as Elijah encountered God in the still small voice, we can develop the habit of listening to God in quiet prayer and reflection. This is not easy in our noisy world, where we are often bombarded with messages from TV and social media. But by following Elijah’s example, we can be brought to a place of tranquillity and peace, where we may be ready for an encounter with God.
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“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful with the fire of your love”. Living life in the power of the Holy Spirit is at the very heart and essence of the Christian vocation. As we open our lives to this power, we will begin to manifest the fruits and gifts of the Spirit. Pope Francis recently introduced this new feast day – the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church - which is celebrated on the Monday after the feast of Pentecost. Mary was present at the key moments in Jesus’ life: his birth, during his ministry, at the foot of the cross and in the Upper Room on the day of Pentecost. She is both the model disciple and also teacher of how to treasure, ponder and pray on the mystery of Christ. Mary was present in the Upper Room and right at the very heart of the Church’s beginning. She remains at the heart of the Church and just as John took Mary into his home, so we must too. Mary teaches us to speak little, listen a lot and cherish the word of God in our hearts. The Holy Spirit leads us to nurture a Marian piety; through saying the Rosary especially but also by studying the Scriptures that refer to Mary. She is always close to us, not just at the hour of our death but every moment, and we turn to her intercession and rejoice in her witness and example of faith. “Mother, help our faith! Sow in our faith the joy of the Risen One. And may this light of faith always increase in us”. {Pope Francis, Lumen Fidei} This is very much at the heart of our Evangelisation in Liskeard. At our Exposition on Thursday 16th of May instead of the Divine Mercy Litany in honour of Mary we said The Rosary and Fatima prayer, for the intentions of a family new to our parish in Liskeard. In April the Bethany group made flames for our Pentecost display in front of the altar, Our Lady altar and windows. In May the Bethany group’s monthly theme was caring for our planet and restoration of nature as part of the Diocese Laudato Si week. We talked about and discussed how small actions can make a huge change. We also make pompoms to add to the Mossy Carpet mass participation artwork which was on display at the Cathedral of St Mary and St Boniface before moving on to other locations. Liskeard’s contribution was a peace dove carrying an olive branch in its beak. The Mossy Carpet is a moss-inspired artwork that celebrates everyone’s steps towards a better world. Moss was the first plant to venture out of the sea and onto the barren land. Over millions of years, mosses have trapped energy and buried carbon deep beneath the surface, transforming our planet into a place where life could thrive. Each tiny moss reveals skills for using energy well and successful living. Persistence, resilience, simplicity, and adaptability. From mosses we gain hope as they return carbon to the earth. There is so much to learn from nature. Through a small moss plant, we are told tiny actions make a big difference. When we work together, we can bring abundance back to abandoned places. Carbon looms large, it is the giant of our times. On our own, we can feel powerless, but when we work together, we can bury the giant. This artwork gives inspiration, comfort and hope. Creative activities help us to slow down, have better conversations, imagine new things, have fun and feel more connected. “God who gives us breath; We pray for the world we live in: that God may open our eyes to recognise the goodness of all creation and help us to do what we can to restore and care for the wonderful gift that we have been given. May he open our ears to hear his still small voice urging us to make good choices for this world. Amen” {CAFOD} “Heavenly Father, we know that you long to nourish and strengthen us as we come before you in prayer. Grant us the grace to persevere in our prayer and spend time with you, so that we may grow in love for you and communicate that love to those around us. Only prolonged contact with God can transform each of us inwardly into a disciple of his. It is through prayer, meditation and silent listening to God that we are enabled to speak to other people.” MATTHEW: 26:40 – So you had not the strength to keep awake with me one hour? Sunday Mass at 11:00 and Holy Hour on a Thursday at 18:00 - Exposition and Divine Mercy Litany, followed by a time of silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament - will both be live streamed every week via YouTube. The link to watch the live streaming is on our Parish website. Where we now have a new “Donate Here” button. Donations for the Parish can now be made via our website. Please do look if you are able to. Our Warm Space this year, where all are welcome to come along, has taken a different direction this year. While walking around the streets of Liskeard, inviting anyone to come along and join us for a 2 course Hot Meal, we have been joined by teenagers between 16 – 18 years, who have come back with us and interacted with us. One young girl saying that this was the first time she had ever stepped inside a church. Liskeard like many places in Cornwall do not seem to cater for this age group, which is very sad. Friday February 16th and throughout Lent saw the start of our Mass and Lenten Lunches starting at 12 noon. Like Warm Space all donations will be split between two local charities – Liskeard Foodbank and St Petroc’s. As Saltash will also be doing Mass and Lenten Lunches, Liskeard and Saltash will alternate each week with either Mass or Stations of the Cross. Saltash donations will go towards Saltash Church Roof Fund. Just before Christmas we reopened St Neots Repository and have had lots of positive comments about the wonderful selection of cards and Catholic gifts on sale. We are intending to get the Repository set up on our website – where you will be able to view and purchase items. We also have a Monthly Meat/Vegetable Hamper Raffle. The first draw took place on Saturday 2nd February during open church which is on the first Saturday of every month and a lucky parishioner won a nice pork, fruit and vegetable hamper. Also, a new Fund Booster is being set up on the 1st March based on the National Lottery bonus ball with a draw taking place on the first Wednesday and first Saturday of each month. 50% of the prize money will be shared between the two draws – so two chances to win each month. The other 50% of the money will be donated to the Parish funds. You reserve a number between 1-59, on a first come, first serve basis, at a cost of £5:00 a month per number and payment can be made by various methods. Please contact the Parish Secretary to reserve a number or ask any questions. Our Bethany Group meeting was held on Wednesday 21st February in the St Neot’s room of Liskeard Church. We explored St Valentine plus great love stories of the Old Testament as part of God’s unfolding plan. Some of the love stories we discussed: Genesis 16: Abram and Sarai {later called Abraham and Sarah} – first recorded surrogacy; Genesis 24: Isaac and Rebecca - Love at first sight; Genesis 29 – Jacob, Leah and Rachel – The things we do for love; Judges 16 v 4-22 Samson and Delilah – Love, pillow talk and betrayal; 2 Samuel Ch 11 – desires and sin; Ruth 1-4 Ruth and Boaz – Love at first sight. This led to a very lively discussion and put into perspective God’s unfolding plan for his children. Lent is a journey towards the joy of Easter Sunday but also a bold affirmation of our baptismal promises, for through baptism we are born again and enter the kingdom of God, becoming a new creation. ‘New life in this kingdom is about joy, righteousness, peace and bearing witness to the fruits that the Holy Spirit gives especially – love and patience’ {Galatians 5:22}. A New Year is a new opportunity to grow and mature in faith. None of us can know what the future holds; none of us knows what this new year will bring. What we can know for sure is that life is an adventure, an invitation to walk with God and discover anew his great plan for our lives.
Ending our year at Liskeard, several of our parish made a trip on Sunday 17th December to Our Lady of the Angels at Saltash for an afternoon Christmas Concert by the Burraton Boys with refreshments afterwards. A lot of Christmas Songs and Carols were sung with the audience participating in the chorus. However, the highlight had to be ‘While shepherds watched their flocks by night’ sung to the tune of the famous Animals’ hit ‘House of the Rising Sun’ - amazingly they both go together so very well! On the Saturday just before Christmas Eve at Liskeard, we held our Candlelight Carol Service Led by our Deacon Peter, and Deacon Andrew from Truro. Many favourite carols were sung. A big thank you must go to our talented young organist Owen who played for us at the Carol Service and throughout the year each Sunday – we are all so very proud of him. We will be opening the St Neots room again in 2024 for our Warm Space on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month. Starting on Saturday 6th January 2024, we hope to provide a 2-course hot lunch, plus tea/coffee and cake. Again, all donations will go to St Petroc. This will then lead into our Lenten Lunches on Friday 23rd February. Our Monthly Bethany Group will commence on Wednesday 17th January 2024 at 14:30 in the St Neot room, with a talk about the work of the Foodbank. Sunday evening 29th October in the Town Hall saw the launch of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal with Liskeard Silver Band and Polperro Fishermen’s Friends – a lovely evening was enjoyed by all – and was supported by many parishioners from Liskeard.
Our Bethany Group will meet on Wednesday 15th November in the St Neot’s room Liskeard, where there will be a talk by a member of Liskeard’s Royal British Legion on the history and work of the Royal British Legion. Refreshments will be available – for a small charge, to give the R.B.L. a donation towards their valuable work. A Christmas Bazaar is being planned for Saturday 2nd December in the St Neot’s room Liskeard. Raffle tickets are now available, a donor has offered to provide the prize money so all proceeds will help the parish. There will be a variety of stalls and our handmade Advent Candle Table Decorations. On Sunday 1st October, we celebrated our Harvest Festival with non-perishable food items placed in front of the altar, afterwards these items were donated to the foodbank. Joining our Mass of celebration was deacons from Devon & Cornwall including our own deacon, Peter Skoyles. Our ploughman’s lunch after Mass collected £110:00 for St Petrocs to help keep them in their work, caring for the homeless in Cornwall. Continuing with our harvest theme, on Saturday 28th October Fr. Gilmour joined Brian Oldham and the Liskeard Old Cornwall Society in Liskeard Cattle Market for ‘Crying the Neck’ This is the Cornish Festival – a pagan religious celebration to welcome the Harvest at the end of summer recalling the last cutting of the sheaf and honouring the harvest so next years crop will be a good one. The neck is never held aloft to the West as this might bring a poor harvest next year. Crying the Neck has its roots as the Celtic Festival of ‘Samhain’ welcoming the harvest at the end of summer, when people would light bonfires and wear costume to ward off ghosts. The Introduction was given by Brian Oldham; Opening Prayer in Cornish by Rod Sheaff; Opening Prayer in English by Fr. Gilmour; Reading in English by Fr. Gilmour; The neck is then raised aloft to the North, East and the South; The Lord’s Prayer in Cornish by Rod Sheaff; The Lord’s Prayer in English by all present; Blessing by Fr. Gilmour; and all sing ‘Trelawny’. The Cornish Anthem ‘Trelawny’ is nowhere near as ancient and refers to the Cornish Bishop Trelawny who spoke out against James II and was imprisoned during the time of the ‘Great Political Unrest’ in 1688. Bishop Jonathan Trelawny is buried in the small church in Pelynt between Looe and Polperro – not far from Sclerder Abbey – in fact it was Trelawny’s descendants that built Sclerder Abbey. Bishop Trelawny’s Crosier hangs above his tomb in the church at Pelynt. For the Bethany Group meeting in October, several ladies from the group visited the Anglican Church of St Wenna, Morval {between Liskeard & Looe} to see the flower and craft festival themed ‘Community Life’. One of our parishioners and Bethany Group member did a floral display representing unity of all people, all Christian communities plus other faiths and no faith. Four small arrangements represented our four Catholic Churches {Liskeard, Saltash, Torpoint and Sclerder} around a large arrangement. This proved very popular, and several members returned over the few days it was on to see it again. Also, others from our church in Liskeard who had not been able to go on the Thursday afternoon the group went visited St Wenna. St Wenna is a beautiful little church down a country lane in the middle of nowhere. This allows the church to be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The church warden explained how it was important to keep the church open and St Wenna was not going to be the sixth church closed; when a young mother had lost her baby and wanted to find a church to pray and sit quietly for an hour. She had tried 5 churches, and all were closed St Wenna was the last one she tried and found it open. How long the grief-stricken mother stayed in the church she did not know it could have been minutes or hours, but words could not express the relief and spiritual assistance she gained from visiting the church. On Wednesday 20th September, our Bethany Group went on a Mini Pilgrimage around our four churches. Starting at Our Mother Church at Liskeard, Saltash, Torpoint and Sclerder Abbey and then returning to Liskeard. We took with us our Peace Dove which had been given to Fr Gilmour on a Pilgrimage in the Holy Land, he had taken with some of our parishioners back in 2019. At each of the churches we were given a warm welcome the peace dove was placed in front of the altar and a prayer for peace was said. At Sclerder Abbey Fr Richard kindly joined us with our prayer for peace and conducted Benediction for us – it was beautiful to sing the ‘Tantum Ergo’ again. The Peace Dove is now doing a tour of the four churches and for November it will be visiting Saltash ‘Our Lady of Angels’. As part of Liskeard unlocked 2023 and the Heritage Trail in Liskeard, Our Lady & St Neot church on Saturday 9th September opened its doors. There were photo boards and information on the history of the church, with stewards on hand to guide and give information about the church. Also on display were church vestments, many of which having come from the Holy Land. Also on display upon the altar were the church’s silverware, items used for church celebrations of the Sacraments. Refreshments were available and all donations are to be given to Historic Churches. Our story begins in the Narthex {porch} with the holy water stoup, just inside the entrance door. This consists of a heavy stone basin, bearing on one side a rudely carved face with a gaping mouth. This basin dates from the 13th century and is said to have been the recipient basin of the water of the Holy Well of St Cleer, given to the church in 1889. It is mounted on a Portland stone column, resting on a granite base bearing the inscription “Iterum Deo Servio”, meaning “Again, I serve God”. Also in the porch on the table is a model of a tin mine and a floral display representing the fiery furnace where the molten tin and copper was melted. This represents the history of our church when our Catholic population grew, needing to enlarge the church in 1863 with designs from Joseph Hansom {the inventor of the Hansom Cab}. Many Irish families fleeing the potato famine in Ireland {The Great Hunger} came seeking employment in the copper mines on Caradon Hill. Every Sunday 200 miners and their families walked from the mining areas around Bolventor, Minions and Pensilva on Bodmin Moor to hear Mass in our church. Walking through the wooden door and reconstructed wooden screen – formerly in the church of St Martin of Tours in Liskeard – this post-Reformation Gothic screen is one of several legacies secured by Fr. George Graham during his incumbency in the 1880s. Entering the church and walking up the aisle to the altar on either side can be seen photo boards displaying photos of the old church, vestments and stoles on display and our Mayer’s of Munich, dated 1886, stained-glass window. This was a gift of remembrance of Joseph Francis Kaupp, a local jeweller and benefactor of the church, residing in Higher Lux Street, and his wife Bridget. Our window is a fine example of Victorian Gothic and as can be seen in our window broadly speaking, the Munich Pictorial Style; romantic and owed much to the revival of religious painting – especially fresco painting in the tradition of the Italian Renaissance masters especially Masaccio, Raphael, and Michelangelo – in Germany early in the 19th Century. It represents an aesthetic that was evidently prized in its time for its craftsmanship and opulence as well as for its ability to engage the viewer emotionally and spiritually. Our six chasubles displayed are generally a representation of the liturgical calendar’s time of the year. Colours of the church year follow a set pattern as the seasons change through Advent, into Christmas and Epiphany-tide, followed by Ordinary Time then into Lent and Easter and back through Ordinary Time to the beginning of the Church Year in Advent. White represents the pleasure and purity that comes from faith. It is one of the most popular colours in liturgical vestments worn by priests daily, regardless of the liturgical season or celebration. These robes are often worn during Christmas and Easter. They represent Christ’s birth and resurrection. The Pope’s default vestments are white, indicating his position as the closest ally of Christ’s glory. Green, a sign of hope, persistence, and continuing listening, is the most utilized colour at Sunday Masses and weekdays outside of declared festivals. Green is the traditional colour for “Ordinary Time”, the period between Easter and Christmas, and vice versa. It is supposed to express the expectation and hope in Christ’s resurrection. Green represents the optimism and life that each new day brings. Purple is especially popular during Advent and Lent. Purple liturgical garments distinguish the Mass for the Dead, and they can be substituted by black vestments. Purple signifies penance, preparation, and sacrifice when worn during Lent or Advent. Because of its association with mourning, it is frequently worn at funerals. Purple vestments, along with white and black, are worn to encourage funeral attendees to pray for the departed’s penance and absolution. Red represents Christ’s passion and the bloodshed in martyrdom by Him and the Saints. This is used for liturgical vestments on Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Pentecost, commemorating the Lord’s Passion and feasts of the Apostles, Evangelists, and Holy Martyrs. Cardinals wear red to demonstrate their loyalty to the Church and the Pope. It is to represent the blood they would bleed for Christ and the Church. Rose vestments are only worn twice a year, on the third Sunday of Advent {Gaudete} and the fourth Sunday of Lent {Laetare} and represents joy and solemnity. Certain colours {pink} are worn on these days to represent Christ’s joy and love. They are intended to remind Catholics of the joy of penance and devotion. It is worn during martyr’s feast days, Good Friday, Palm Sunday, and Pentecost. Blue vestments are only worn once a year, on the Feast of Mary. Blue is used especially for celebrations in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, mostly in Spanish or Portuguese speaking countries. The chasubles and stoles pictured were mainly made by Palestinian women in the refugee camps situated in the Occupied Territories of the region. The Holy Land Benevolent Arts Society – a small charity based in the old city of Jerusalem – runs a small shop in the Via Dolorosa {the traditional Way of the Cross} - tries to find work for the refugees to encourage the learning of traditional needlework skills. Making vestments to be used at Mass allows their beautiful handwork to be sent to different countries and serve as a continuing reminder of the hardship facing refugees. The stole is an item of liturgical clothing worn by priests and deacons as a sign of their office. A stole is always worn when celebrating a church service or administering the sacraments. Often, they are not seen as they will be covered by a cloak or a chasuble, and usually they are the same colour that the liturgy of the day demands. When worn alone they will reflect the celebration, i.e., white for a wedding or baptism and purple for a funeral. Sometimes local craftworkers produce multi-coloured stoles for use on suitable occasions and come in all colours and patterns, and designed for specific uses and occasions including baptism, marriage and death but also for industrial chaplains, chaplains to sea scouts etc. In terms of decoration, only one cross is essential on a stole, at the back of the neck. No rules exist as to design or ornamentation, meaning that all clerical dress stoles show the widest variation of decoration, colour and interpretation as far as design goes, and are frequently highly decorated with figures or patterns in gold and stones. The chasuble, cloak, and many stoles displayed were greatly commented on by all who came in to view them and many photos were taken of them and the church. Some of the stoles displayed came from the Holy Land. A white stole from Israel depicting the Jerusalem Cross and wheat and grapes a reminder of the Eucharist. This stole would mainly be used when Holy Communion is brought to those who are housebound or in hospital. Another white stole comes from Palestine and has been decorated with traditional local needlework. The Jerusalem Cross, a large cross surrounded by four smaller crosses is said to represent the five wounds of Christ, those made on his hands and feet at the crucifixion and that on his side made by the spear. The blue stole was made in England and shows an oak tree, representing the growth from a small acorn into a mighty tree, a wish for the Christian church. The dove and tongues of fire are symbols of the Holy Spirit without whom the growth of the Church will not happen. Also, on display was a multi-coloured stole from Mexico, and a very colourful stole from South America, probably Chile, brought to England by a priest who worked many years in that country. Also, on the altar we had a display of silverware used for celebrations of the Sacraments. The monstrance - which houses the Consecrated Host and plays an important part in Eucharistic Adoration and gives faithful Catholics to pray to Jesus in His very presence through the Holy Eucharistic at parish or during feasts and processions – and various Chalices and Patens – Early chalices were akin to drinking vessels normally in use and were distinguished from these only by ornamentation. Until the Middle Ages it was customary for each church to have but one chalice; since Masses have become more numerous, most churches have several chalices, and a great many priests possess their own. The paten is a shallow plate on which the large host rests at times both before and after consecration. It may be of gold, silver, gilt on the concave surface. Originally, a paten was a very large dish, sometimes of metal but often of wood, from which the Eucharist was distributed to the faithful in the days when unleavened bread was in use. By the 9th century, when Communion of the faithful had become infrequent, the paten was reduced in size and in time assumed its present form. The veil covering the chalice and paten as they are carried to the altar is, at least in the Latin rite, of comparatively recent origin. Not until 1570 was it prescribed for the Roman Rite. Since the reforms of Vatican II, its use is now optional. Finally on display on the altar, is the case containing the three types of holy oils used in the church today. The Church’s rites prescribe that the oils are normatively blessed {or consecrated, in the case of chrism} at the Chrism Mass each year. All priests may bless the oil of catechumens and oil of the sick ‘in case of true necessity’. As evidence of their fruitfulness and importance in our sacramental life, oils take centre stage when they are blessed and consecrated just before Easter, at what is called the Chrism Mass. This provides for the new oils to be used at the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil. The three oils are: - Oil of Catechumens is used at Baptism, and it is said the oil of catechumens extends the effect of the baptismal exorcisms: “Before they go to the font of life to be reborn, the candidates for baptism are strengthened to renounce sin and the devil”. By the anointing with the oil of catechumens then, it can be said that the recipient gains God’s grace and help to overcome the power Satin and sin have over us and profess the Christian faith with boldness, all of which aims toward the newness of life received in baptism. Oil of the Sick is used by priests to anoint the sick: “They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them”. All who receive anointing with this oil receive God’s blessing, as the prayer of blessing says, so “that they may be freed from pain and illness and made well again in body, mind and soul”. Sacred Chrism in the Old Testament was used to anoint priests, prophets and kings. Priests and Bishops today are anointed with sacred chrism at their ordinations. “Let the splendour of holiness shine on the world from every place and thing signed with this oil. After their blessing or consecration, at the Chrism Mass, the holy oils are distributed to the parishes and institutions of the diocese, usually available immediately after the Mass for priests or parish representatives to retrieve. This brings a close to our open day tour of Our Lady & St Neot, Liskeard. More photos available in the slideshow below. |
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